For the past several weeks, I have opened this column talking about the
tropical depression or tropical storm that was headed our way. Thankfully that
is not the case this week. However, in the past week Subtropical Storm Gustav
brushed us on the ocean side early in the week and then Tropical
Storm/Depression Hanna brushed by on the inland side later in the week. At the
time I put this column together last week, TS/TD Hanna had not even formed and
by late Saturday and early Sunday it had already rushed right by. At present, it
looks like we may have a week that is simply the usual workings between high
pressures and low pressures, with a weak cold front thrown in for good measure.

A recent press release from the North Carolina Division of Marine
Fisheries heralds the fact that four state records have already been broken this
year. The last time that happened was in 1979. We have another three and a half
months to go so there is plenty of time for another state record to be broken.
If that happens, it will set two records, as it will be a first for five records
to be broken in the same year.

The new records include a 61 pound albacore (this is a true albacore or
white meat tuna-not the false albacore or little tunny that are so popular with
fly fishermen and light tackle enthusiasts) that was caught by Timothy Burns on
June 11. Burns, of Milford, New Jersey, was fishing on the charter boat
Haphazard, out of Oregon Inlet. On May 1, Robert Spencer caught a 39 pound
blackfin tuna, to set the new mark in that species. Spencer, of Smithfield,
Virginia, was fishing on the charter boat Rigged Up, out of Oregon Inlet. Jesse
Dunlow was fishing with a friend on May 25, when he landed a 105 pound cobia.
Dunlow, of Windsor, NC, was fishing out of Hatteras. May 8 was the big day for
Kevin Valla, of Havelock, NC. Valla was fishing on the head boat Capt. Stacy IV,
when he landed his 2 pound and 11 ounce pinfish. Congratulations to all.

Maybe there are some other record fish waiting to be caught in our
improving fishing conditions. In spite of the weather, there were some excellent
catches over the past week. Baitfish are pouring out almost every inlet and in
most cases there are some predators waiting on them. The rainwater of the past
several weeks has found its way to the coast and is cooling off the sounds and
nearshore ocean. As the water cools, more fish are becoming active and feeding
heavily. The few reports that we are getting are basically good and once the
weather settles and more people go fishing, the reports should be even better.

Some kings have moved right on in to the beach to check out the coastal
buffet. Bogue Inlet Pier, in Emerald Isle, set the pace with four on Sunday.
Many nearshore rocks, wrecks, and artificial reefs have been producing some more
fish and that trend should continue. There are also numerous bottom feeders
around the piers, in the surf, and in many inshore sounds and waterways.

Red drum continue to bite well in the marshes and inlets. They have been
joined by black drum and some larger speckled trout. Topwater baits have been
very effective in catching the larger trout.

Effective October 1, the minimum size for inside waters
flounder will increase to 14 inches. The inside flounder season has been
good and with more fishing pressure than in previous years. The combination of
these factors made the larger minimum size necessary to meet the restricted
harvest numbers that were set earlier in the year. For more information see the
News Flash elsewhere on this site.